A YOUNG businessman who died in a racing accident last year has left an estate worth £26 million.

Darren Needham, the 37-year-old managing director of a holiday company, crashed his Mini Cooper head first into a barrier at Silverstone race track last August and was pronounced dead at the scene.

His father, James, then 57, was also competing in the race.

Mr Needham, from Orpington, made most of his millions working for James Villa Holidays, which his father founded in Kent in 1984. His estate, which has a net value of £26,220,989, was split between his father and widow Sarah.

She watched her husband crash on the first lap of the John Cooper Challenge on Sunday, August 8, last year.

Mrs Needham lives in the couple’s Chelsfield mansion with sons Callum and Liam, who were just five and four when their father died.

Her husband only entered the Challenge three weeks before the first race in 2003 – after quitting the track for a City career some years ago.

The accident stunned the racing community, many of whom remembered Mr Needham from his days as a junior competitor. The race, which marked the Mini’s 45th anniversary, was disbanded after his death.

John Needham was persuaded to compete by his son. The pair were driving identical vehicles at Silverstone, said to be Darren Needham’s favourite track.

An onlooker wrote on a tribute forum for Darren: "Only the day before I took a picture of father and son talking happily with each other in the collecting area before the Saturday race. Who would have imagined what Sunday would bring?"

Another wrote: "I am sure I speak for all the marshals and medics involved in this freak accident. Our deepest condolences to all his family and friends. A tragic loss to the sport."